Sterling Forest environmental advocates object to casino location

Tuesday

Aug 5, 2014 at 2:00 AMAug 5, 2014 at 10:22 AM

Tuxedo's environmental review of Genting America's proposed casino has barely begun, and the developer finds its project facing a barrage of criticism because it would be located within Sterling Forest.

Hema Easley

Tuxedo's environmental review of Genting America's proposed casino has barely begun, and the developer finds its project facing a barrage of criticism because it would be located within Sterling Forest.

A statement from Jeff Tittel, chapter director of the Sierra Club of New Jersey, alleged the Genting casino would spew millions of gallons of sewage into the Ramapo River.

That claim came despite Genting's stated plan to build a water-reclamation facility that would release treated water into Indian Kill that it says would be two grades cleaner than what currently flows in the creek.

Tittel's statement came the day of a public hearing in Tuxedo on issues to be tackled during the environmental review, and it questioned the town's ability to be an unbiased steward of the process.

"Having Tuxedo in charge of the environmental review is like having Ben & Jerry's in charge of your diet," said the statement.

Genting Americas is among eight developers in Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties hoping to be chosen this fall for a state gaming license.

Its 1.4 million-square-foot Sterling Forest Resort would be built on a 31-acre section of a 240-acre privately owned lot that is surrounded by Sterling Forest.

Many opponents of the casino fought long and hard to create the 22,000-acre forest reserve, and are opposed to a casino in its vicinity. The project would be built on land that is now the site of the Renaissance Faire and the Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center.

Genting Americas has responded to criticism by sitting down with some opponents, like the Natural Resources Defense Council, and responding to concerns of Scenic Hudson. The New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club and Genting have not met.

As part of its outreach, the developer recently went live with a new website and opened a visitor center in Tuxedo that includes explanations of how impacts of the casino will be mitigated.

At the public hearing Thursday, many residents came to voice a range of complaints.

John Yrizzary, a longtime resident, claimed birds would fly into the glass windows of the casino and die. Lighting at the site would attract insects and mosquitoes, eventually killing them, he said.

"They won't be available to toads, amphibians," he said if the insects, which he said would affect the habitat of native species.

James Hayes said he wanted the town to include what he called the "damaging aspects" of casinos in the environmental review.

"People become addicted to gambling ... It causes divorces, bankruptcy and suicide," he said.

Greg Duffy was concerned about Colorado-like wildfires in Sterling Forest resulting from smoking. Susanne Williams worried how animals in the forest would move from one side of casino land to the other. She suggested walkways for the animals.

But not all comments were critical. Nearly half of attendees wore Support Sterling Forest stickers and spoke of the economic benefits that would come with the resort.

"The goal of the resort is not to destroy the forest, but to revitalize it," said Lee Stanton, a graduate of George F. Baker High School who felt casino revenues would be a boon for the struggling Tuxedo School District.